Stacey and Clinton would be horrified...

If you don't "get" the title, don't worry...you'll see where I'm going pretty quickly! A couple weeks ago, our friend Steve got married. Adam was one of the groomsmen and it was a GREAT wedding. He/we were able to catch up with a lot of friends that we hadn't seen since we left for Japan, had two kids, etc... and it was especially fun for me to have "no official responsibilities whatsoever...".I could just relax and have fun!!
Of course, the bride was GORGEOUS and all eyes were on her MOST OF THE TIME...except when everyone was staring at this guest:

The mullet aside, the head-to-toe WHITE SUIT on a MAN at a WINTER WEDDING was so shocking. The fact that he NEVER left the dance floor at the Reception was part of it also...he was an absolute riot...I tried to be subtle as I took a few pictures, but I'm not usually great at that. I wasn't the only one snapping shots of him, though. I mean, can you blame me?!

*Special thanks to fellow Groomsman OJ for standing in for me to pretend taking a picture of him, while shifting the camera quickly to the right to snap the shot of the true intended guest...


I hope this doesn't come off sounding tacky or mean, because maybe he's a great guy. Maybe the Bride asked him to wear that so she wouldn't be the only one capturing all the attention, who knows!? It was humorous, though...

Here's a happy picture of us and the Bride and Groom! Yay for Steve and Mary!

Mmmm Mmmm Good

On Saturday, I made my FAVORITE FALL RECIPE ever! Patty G's PUMPKIN CURRY SOUP! It's so tasty and super easy to make, too...of course, you have to like pumpkin, curry, and onions...I gave some to 3 of our neighbors and they all LOVED it and asked for more! Thanks again, Patty! Here it is if anyone wants to make it:

Cream of Pumpkin with Curry Soup

4 Tbsp Butter
1/2 C. Chopped Onion
3 tsp curry powder
6 C. Chicken Broth
2 C. Heavy Whipping Cream
32 oz. Canned Pumpkin Puree
1/4 C Brown Sugar, packed
Salt, Pepper, and Nutmeg (season to taste)

*Melt Butter and sautee onions until translucent.
*Add Curry and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes
*Add pumpkin, brown sugar, and chicken broth. Stir until smooth.
*Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste.
*Cook for 10 minutes, stirring, over MEDIUM heat.
*Stir in Whipping Cream and cook 5 minutes more...
*Pour all into a blender and puree/liquify until smooth....

*Serve with fresh chopped chives as garnish...

ENJOY!

How do you say "no" to that?

Adam was getting Elise ready for bed tonight and, as usual, she picks out 2 or 3 books for us to read to her. I gave her a hug and kiss and started to leave the room to feed Ainsley. I was close enough to hear the request as she pointed at her 'My First Bible' on the shelf:
"I want some Jesus."

Midnight Conversations...

Elise woke up crying last night at 11:55, Adam was only 1/2 conscious so I went in with her...after about 30 seconds, she was soothed and started chatting with me:
elise:Mommy, where Daddy?
Me: He's in mommy and daddy's bed sleeping
elise:He calling for you. He want to cuddle with you
Me: Oh, he is? I don't hear him
elise: He IS calling for you. He dropped his book. (which is what she does and calls for us!)
Me:I think he's sleeping, elise
elise: NO, mommy. He dropped his book. You got get for him and that make him happy.

I get up to leave, kiss her and say goodnight again

elise:Mommy, it dark in your room. Can you see ok to read book for daddy?

so cute.

This picture has nothing to do with our conversation last night, but it's a cute pic from a Bubble Bath that she took the other day in our big Garden Tub in the Master Bathroom...she loved every minute of it!

Pumpkin Patch...Volume II

Elise and Grayson playing so well together!

This was well supervised!!! They were 'pretending' to nap together!

After traveling to Greenville, we had 2 quick days of turnover, and then headed to Florida for Steve and Mary's wedding (more on that later!) On the way to Gainesville, we spent 36 hours in Jacksonville visiting Mike, Konomi, and Grayson...we hadn't seen them in almost 8 months and I was in major withdrawal after seeing them DAILY in Japan. It's always nice to catch up with them, and Elise and Grayson played together like they never missed a beat. She's asked for him everyday since we left, too...that part makes me sad. =(.
When we all lived in Jax, there were about 5-6 of us that hung out every Sunday night watching Desperate Housewives, drinking some adult beverages, etc...at the time, Konomi was the only one of us with kids. Now, there are 6 kids (+1 pregnant) and we're spread out around the country. Three of us got the kiddos together for a little photo shoot at a Pumpkin Patch. It was DISASTROUS! We had good intentions, but here's a syn0psis...it really went wrong on so many levels...
*Elise didn't sleep well the night before...I ended up sharing a twin bed with her, but no blankets. I was GRUMPY, so was she.
*It was 89 degrees outside. Unseasonably hot for mid-Oct, even in Jacksonville!
*Ainsley had a fever of about 102. I didn't know that at the time, but realized it when we got home from the pumpkin patch
*Grayson also was sick. He'd been fighting off something, but had a fever, too
*We put Elise in an extra costume of Madeline's....head-t0-toe fleece
*Grayson was in head-t0-toe fleece, also
*It was 89 degrees. Did I mention that already? I'd be pissy in all that fleece in the heat also...
*We didn't want a crowded street in the background, so we had to face INTO the Sun...you'll see ...and try to smile

That's enough...you'll see from a few pictures how well it went. We'll just laugh at these now and realize that none of them will be framed and put on a wall anywhere!

madeline, grayson, elise...all relatively happy
Madeline is bored, Elise is antsy...

We thought we'd add Ainsley...she totally FREAKED out over the costumes!

All three kids are BORED/hot/grumpy... I was trying to cheer up Ainsley, but really just LAUGHING soooo hard!

Ainsley can't open her eyes, Elise wouldn't even LOOK at the camera now

AFTER the event, back in the A/C...Elise was much happier!

Where to begin?

Ok, since I have the need to keep this chronological, I'll start the updates from almost 2 weeks ago. yikes. I'll keep them brief since Elise is at school, Ainsley is sleeping, I'm doing laundry and cooking baby food while I work on this, too...
Adam had a Court Martial (or something like that-whatever-he was in court) a few hours away on a Saturday. Since the NAVY was paying for his travel, hotel, etc...we decided it would be fun (!) to join him. One of my college roommates lives about 10 minutes from the hotel (all part of the plan...), I'd get to spend the day with her family, meet her kids, etc... we drove up on Friday, only slept about 4 hours Friday night because Elise didn't adjust well to being in a hotel! At one point, we just turned on the water at the sink in the hotel room to create some "white noise" so that Elise's crying wouldn't wake up Ainsley...every little bit of tree-hugger in me was CRINGING, but the fact that both kids were asleep won me over. It lasted maybe an hour...sorry to the environment. I had to do it.
The 8 or so hours we spent with my friend Steph was a BREATH OF FRESH AIR. It was great to see them (their kids are 8,6,4, and 2). WOW. The three oldest are boys and are adorable! Little Claire is so sweet and a blast to be around. In the midst of total craziness (a joint 6/8 year old birthday party for HER kids, soccer games, etc...), it was great to be with them. Steph has always had a wonderful attitude about family, kids, etc...and it is wonderful to watch her and Ian with their kids. They have a great balance between discipline, love, and fun. Their house is kind of a disaster, but how could it be any different with 4 active kids!? I loved (am I saying this?) the mess and the chaos. Elise was in HEAVEN with all the kids and toys, Ainsley just explored the whole time- practicing her walking skills while pushing a grocery cart around...it was great.
Although I'm pretty sure we're NOT planning on having 4 kids of our own, I would love my house/family/attitude to look like Steph's if we did! But, I would also want a nanny and/or grandparents to live nearby, and a lawn service, and a cleaning person...but that's all. =)

When Mommy is away...

I have a great weekend to blog about, also, but I'm in the midst of packing for another trip- 6 days to Florida to visit friends in Jacksonville, be in Steve/Mary's wedding, etc...but I HAVE to share a quick story from just a few hours ago...
Our great neighbor Jean wanted to go for a walk, so she took Elise in the jogging stroller so I could get some stuff done while Ainsley was napping. What a blessing! They did a quick 45 minute walk around the neighborhood. As they came home, they passed the pond (this is typical). We usually take some stale bread to feed the fish and turtles, but I forgot to send it with Jean. I guess this was the conversation that followed:

Elise: Miss Jean, can we feed fishies and turtles?
Jean: Elise, we don't have any food for them today, maybe tomorrow
Elise: I can share my snack with them if I want
Jean: I don't know if Mommy would want you to give the fish your yummy snack, though
Elise: Well...hmmmm.....but I not wif Mommy, I wif Miss Jean. So I can share my snack with fishies and turtles.

HILARIOUS!?!?! Are kids supposed to know that logic before 3 years old!?! Hmmm...Jean said she almost fell over laughing and couldn't wait to tell me when they got home.! I also love it that Jean knows how cheap I am and knew I wouldn't want the fish to get the 'first run' food of Cheerios and Raisins...they only get the junk we won't eat! =)